apter 156


    The moment Corey''s voice fell, a collective gasp swept through the crowd.


    No one had expected this. While most of the students were still dreaming of just qualifying for the Hundred-Man Unit selection test, someone else had already been granted a confirmed spot-no testing, no evaluation. A direct appointment.


    A formal position in the Hundred-Man Unit.


    It was more than an honor. It was a straight path to bing a high-ranking militarymander, and with it, a legitimate chance to enter Starlight Capital, the dream of every warrior across the continent.


    In an instant, every eye turned to Raven. And those gazes were brimming with pure, concentrated envy.


    She was so young. So new. And somehow, she had already be the acting president of Regalhold. And now-this?


    Could her luck get any better?


    Even Kurt blinked in mild astonishment, shooting Raven a sideways nce filled with surprise.


    He had always sensed she was strong-extremely strong-but as his own strength had declined with age, he couldn''t quite gauge just how powerful she truly was.


    But now? If General Corey Jackson was personally offering up a Hundred-Man Unit slot to recruit her, then Raven''s strength had to be even more terrifying than he''d imagined.


    But what truly caught everyone off guard was what happened next, because Raven didn''t react. No excitement. No joy. No shock.


    Her expression remained calm. Too calm.


    The crowd stared, confused. One unspoken thought rippled through their minds- Did she just get so excited she froze? Corey noticed it too. His brows drew together, the corners of his mouth tensing ever so slightly.


    If she had looked like this before he offered the spot, he could''ve chalked it up toposure or natural poise.


    But now? Now that he had handed her one of the most coveted positions in the entire military-and she lookedpletely unbothered? That wasn''t calm. That was suspicious.


    There were only two exnations: One, she didn''t actually understand what a confirmed Hundred-Man Unit slot meant. Two, she had such poor emotional control that she was literally stunned stupid by joy.


    Either way, it wasn''t a good look.


    Kurt, picking up on Corey''s displeasure, quickly stepped in with a tight smile. "Raven, what are you waiting for? Say yes."


    He was trying to help. Cassian had alreadye back for Raven, which meant Kurt no longer felt threatened about losing his position at the academy. If Raven joined the Hundred-Man Unit, she''d be too busy to manage university affairs- perfect for him.


    The students seemed to reach the same conclusion.


    ''Ah, so that''s it, they thought.


    She''s not actually calm-she just got so overwhelmed she lost her senses.


    Still, wasn''t this a bit too embarrassing? Was she not even capable of masking it better?


    ????,65%


    13:05 Mon, 21 Apr 0


    Some even began silently questioning Corey''s judgment. "This is the girl you''re betting on?''


    But just as everyone assumed Raven would finally snap out of it and eagerly ept the offer-probably bowing, thanking Corey for his generosity....


    And what she said dropped like a thunderp.


    "A confirmed slot in the Hundred-Man Unit?" Raven said, her tone cool and curious. "Funny. I didn''t know the Hundred- Man Unit had a ''confirmed'' list."


    The air went still. Utter silence.


    Every head in the za turned sharply toward her, jaws ck. Even Kurt stood frozen in ce, unable to process what he''d just heard.


    Was she insane?


    Not only had she failed to seize the opportunity, she was now questioning it? Was she seriously implying that Corey-Grand General Corey Jackson-was lying?


    Kurt''s face paled. In a low voiceced with panic, he tried again. "Raven, now''s not the time to ask questions. Just say yes. Say


    yes now."


    But Raven didn''t even nce at him. Her eyes remained locked on Corey''s, steady and unflinching. She was waiting-for his


    answer.


    Corey, for the first time, felt his own expression begin to frost over.


    And Kurt, now visibly sweating, tried again. "Raven-"


    He didn''t get to finish.


    Corey raised a hand. Silenced him.


    Then, without looking away from Raven, his voice dropped, cold and clipped.


    "Are you saying... you don''t believe me?" he asked. "Or are you questioning my authority?"